Send Jewel to France

May 11 -June 11

Bob Jones University’s Study Abroad trip to France consists of a four-week stay in the city of Villebon-sur-Yvette, just south of Paris. A group of about ten students will be escorted by and reside with a married couple, both French and Spanish language professors at BJU, and their three young trilingual children. 

The husband, head of BJU’s Division of World Languages and Cultures, will lead the six-credit course throughout the trip. Students will visit a variety of significant locations and at times give presentations on the very monument, grave or location they’re standing next to. The learning emphasis will be on the French language, history and culture. English is strictly prohibited during the entirety of the trip.

The expenses: $4,600 covers the entire cost of the trip, including travel, room and board, and entrance fees. Beyond this amount paid to the university, further expenses will be determined by my  personal choices. 

I will begin making payments Nov. 20 and will, Lord willing, complete payment by April.

I am earning two bachelor’s degrees, one in journalism & mass communication and another in French. My interest is to combined the two lines of education through international travel and writing. This is how this trip would invest in my preparation:

1) Language: being limited to French will vastly improve my comfort and ease with the language. I am currently at a scholastically-defined advanced level, having studied privately for two years and at the university for another two. I will be forced to face the holes in my fluency and motivated to progress to the next level, professional fluency. I’ve been writing two blog posts a week on this very topic, available here: jewelschuurmans.wixsite.com/speakit 

2) Travel: immersion in a culture dissimilar to my own will broaden my perspective and enhance my worldview. Professionally, I will be better informed, and personally, I will be further enriched - and through it all, I will seek ways to use my education for the Lord’s purposes. (Mark 16:15)

3) Education: because I studied French on my own, I was awarded nine credits when I enrolled at BJU. If I earn these six credits in summer, I will graduate a semester early and lower each semester’s credit load.

Finally, and most importantly:

4) Ministry: I see a Christian’s ministry as something that saturates and directs their every experience. Every skill I develop is ultimately for the Lord’s service. Every person I interact with is an occasion for the Holy Spirit to work. Every high standard I strive for is inspired by the call to “do it with thy might” (Ecc. 9:10) and “study to show thyself approved” (2 Tim. 2:15).

By the Lord’s grace, by the end of this semester I will have completed my first half of my undergrad education debt-free. As I continue, I would like to continue diligently pursuing to honor the Lord’s desire to “owe no man any thing” (Rom. 13:8). Any contribution you make will help me maintain that standard for as long as possible and shorten the period I may require to re-attain it. Thank you so much for your support!

John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

COVID-19 note: It is impossible to speculate travel conditions by the time the trip occurs. We are proceeding with the hope that all will be well, but if the trip is canceled, all donations will of course be fully refunded.